“What crime has Ling Xiao committed?”
Feng Yin Shan asked.
“We do not know, but the Emperor has given the order. We dare not disobey.”
The thousand-man commander replied.
“Do you have an imperial edict?”
Feng Yin Shan asked again.
“Only a verbal decree.”
The thousand-man commander answered.
“Then this is pure nonsense. Slandering the Emperor is an even graver crime.”
Feng Yin Shan said coldly.
His questions had completely placed the Justice Divine Guards in the position of lawbreakers and rebels.
Although everyone clearly knew that they had indeed been sent by Feng Ming Wu Liang, acting against a prince without an imperial edict was outright treason.
He said no more, for the facts were already obvious.
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. “I advise you all to think carefully. Do not become tools for others only to be silenced in the end. If you dare to act today, I will show no mercy. You had better consider it well and not do anything foolish.”
His stance was clear. If the Justice Divine Guards withdrew now, he would not strike. But if they attacked, he would kill without hesitation.
The face of the thousand-man commander turned ashen. After a long silence, he finally made his decision.
In the end, he still refused to believe that Ling Xiao possessed heaven-defying abilities.
With their numbers, combined with the people from the Divine Phoenix Academy, killing Ling Xiao was absolutely possible.
“Ling Xiao, you have only two choices. Either surrender and come with us, or die here.”
The Emperor’s command could not be defied.
Moreover, the Justice Divine Guards had never feared anyone’s threats.
Killing a mere Ling Xiao was nothing compared to killing Yue Nü. What did they have to fear?
“Prepare!”
The thousand-man commander waved his hand. A long spear appeared in his grasp.
Whoosh!
Behind him, more than a thousand men simultaneously summoned identical long spears.
The spear could be used in close combat or thrown. It was an extremely versatile weapon.
This weapon was also the standard equipment of the Justice Divine Guards.
More than a thousand long spears pointed at Ling Xiao.
The imposing sight and murderous aura enveloped the entire long street.
Many onlookers hurriedly retreated. This terrifying scene filled them with dread.
More than a thousand Justice Divine Guards.
That meant more than a thousand experts at the Half-Step Cave Heaven realm. Combined with their unique formation, their power fused into one. The resulting momentum was simply frightening.
Yet Ling Xiao stood there, a disdainful cold smile on his lips, as if the overwhelming pressure did not exist at all.
“Long Chen, Leng Mei, you need not act. Leave these people to me.”
Ling Xiao stood like a war god, utterly fearless.
Leng Mei obediently sheathed her sword.
Long Chen paused for a moment before withdrawing his released dragon aura.
At this moment, Ling Xiao had not yet struck. He wanted a legitimate reason. He would wait until the instant they attacked, then eliminate them all.
“Life or death. The choice is yours.”
Ling Xiao said calmly.
The thousand-man commander stared at Ling Xiao, his heart filled with shock.
Was Ling Xiao truly just putting on an act?
It did not seem so.
But what exactly did he rely on to face the attack of more than a thousand Justice Divine Guards without changing his expression?
Once the order to attack was given, there would be no turning back.
Kill, or not kill?
“Commander Liu, why have you not yet given the order? Are you truly afraid of Ling Xiao? Do not forget, you are a Cave Heaven realm warrior. Behind you stand more than a thousand divine guards who uphold justice.”
Just as the thousand-man commander hesitated, a voice rang out.
It was Peng Yue, the Heavenly Peng Phoenix Son.
That voice was like the temptation of a devil. It instantly hardened Commander Liu’s resolve.
Yes, what did he have to fear?
He was a Cave Heaven realm expert.
Behind him stood more than a thousand Half-Step Cave Heaven realm Justice Divine Guards.
Hundreds of young warriors from the Divine Phoenix Academy supported him.
He had nothing to fear.
His hesitant gaze instantly became resolute.
Intense killing intent shone in his cold eyes.
“Kill!”
Commander Liu was the first to hurl his long spear, aiming straight at Ling Xiao.
“Kill!”
More than a thousand divine guards roared in unison almost simultaneously. Over a thousand long spears tore through the air, shooting towards Ling Xiao like soul-chasing venomous dragons.
They blotted out the sky with whistling sounds.
“You have chosen death after all.”
The smile vanished from Ling Xiao’s face. All that remained was indifference, disdain for the enemy’s choice and contempt for their decision.
Boom!
A massive black shadow blotted out the heavens.
The crowd suddenly realised that the sky had turned dark.
Upon closer inspection, they saw it was an enormous shadow.
The shadow covered an area of several tens of metres, plunging this space into darkness.
Seventh Profound Meaning of Shadow: Dark Sword Domain!
This was a technique born from the fusion of the sword domain and the profound meaning of shadow. It represented the perfect integration of Ling Xiao’s shadow profound meaning and swordsmanship.
As the long spears entered the black shadow, they were instantly shredded by sharp sword qi, reduced to fragments that scattered across the ground.
Those spears were no ordinary weapons. The long spears used by the Justice Divine Guards were all immortal-grade treasures.
Yet they were completely destroyed by this terrifying Dark Sword Domain. The tearing power was utterly fearsome and overwhelmingly strong.
“What a terrifying technique!”
“What immense strength!”
People swallowed hard in frenzy, filled with both fear and excitement. They dared not blink, eager to witness the full battle.
The all-out strike from more than a thousand Justice Divine Guards had not even grazed a single hair on Ling Xiao’s body.
This included the attack from Commander Liu.
Commander Liu was a First Cave Heaven realm warrior, yet his strike had been completely ineffective.
Just how powerful was Ling Xiao?
Seeing the darkness that shrouded the sky, Commander Liu’s heart convulsed violently.
How strong was Ling Xiao exactly?
What had happened in the past six months?
He did not know, but the attack had already begun. There was no path of retreat.
Ling Xiao had said that if he dared to act, he would surely die.
“Kill! Combine forces and slay him!”
Commander Liu roared furiously and was the first to draw a three-foot sword before charging forward.
Since the spear formation could not deal with Ling Xiao, they would overwhelm him with sheer numbers.
They had more than a thousand men.
Every one of them possessed considerable cultivation.
At the same time, many of the young warriors from the Divine Phoenix Academy behind Ling Xiao launched their attacks almost simultaneously.
Ling Xiao’s expression grew even colder.
Within the Dark Sword Domain, countless pitch-black sword shadows emerged and shot out mercilessly.
“Since you seek death, I shall grant it!”
With each black sword shadow that flew out, another corpse appeared on the ground.
Moments later, everyone except Commander Liu was dead.
More than a thousand people.
Gone, just like that.
The entire event had unfolded in a mere instant.
The onlookers felt their hearts racing faster and faster. It was too terrifying. Ling Xiao’s power had far exceeded their expectations.
A single move had killed more than a thousand people.
These thousand ranged from Seven Star Heaven realm to Half-Step Cave Heaven realm. They had no ability to resist and became souls claimed by Ling Xiao’s sword shadows.
Who could stop him?
Commander Liu?
Yet at this moment, Commander Liu was covered in wounds.
Though he still lived, his courage had been utterly shattered.
Ling Xiao was no human. He was a devil, a demonic god.
Only now did he realise that the rumours from the outside world were true. They spoke of Ling Xiao himself, not anyone else.
